Consider your options carefully. It is likely that you are expecting top grades in your Leaving Certificate if you are considering pharmacy as a career so there will be plenty of doors open to you. Make sure you do plenty of work experience in different areas of pharmacy and if it is healthcare you are interested in then consider getting some work experience in medicine etc. I know quite a few people who have completed a pharmacy degree only to realise they actually want to do medicine!

The Social person's interests focus on some aspect of those people in their environment. In all cases the social person enjoys the personal contact of other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people, and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Occupation Details

Retail Sales Manager

Education Most of these occupations require qualifications at NFQ Levels 7 or 8 (Ordinary / Honours Degrees) but some do not.

Related Experience A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, you may need to complete three - four years of college and work for several years in the career area to be considered qualified.

Job Training Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Lorraine Brophy works as a Sales Operations Manager for Lidl Ireland. She is currently on an exchange programme working in Lidl Germany where not only is she learning the language but she also has responsibility for 3 stores in Berlin.

Sales managers are responsible for the sales team and/or sales assistants of companies with products or services to sell. They divide the work by region or type, allocating it to sales representatives. They set sales targets for individuals or groups to meet.

Supervision of the sales reps' work may be done mainly through telephone conversations, email and occasional meetings, and by analysis of their written weekly or monthly sales returns. Liaison with the reps includes discussions about whether the company can make changes to meet customers' requirements or offer special discounts. The manager may be able to decide on some of these or may have to have discussions with product managers, factory or suppliers.

The manager provides quotations, processes orders (checking that the most important ones are on schedule) and ensures that the reps have supplies of sales literature, product samples and sales/merchandising aids. They produce sales reports for discussion by company management, and organise sales briefings, conferences and the company's stands at trade fairs and exhibitions.

For major orders, the manager may draw up a tender document, estimate or sales brochure and agree a final contract. After delivery of products, they may have to handle any problems, complaints or queries. With the personnel manager, they may recruit and train sales staff.

Depending on the level of their responsibility, sales managers may travel locally, nationally and even internationally, and spend short periods away from home.

Tasks & Activities

The following is a list of the most commonly reported tasks and activities for this occupation

Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.

Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.

Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.

Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.

Work Activities

The following is a list of the most commonly reported work activities in this occupation.

Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Knowledge

The following is a list of the five most commonly reported knowledge areas for this occupation.

Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

The key skill is the ability to manage a team of sales representatives, therefore good leadership qualities, enthusiasm, initiative and the ability to motivate are important.

Administrative abilities are required to deal with the paper work of sales reports, enquiries, orders and guarantees. Communications skills are essential for dealing with product managers, suppliers, representatives, customers, marketing executives and other managerial staff, both inside and outside the company.

Relevant IT skills will be required. Sales Representatives would normally need a full driving licence.

Further Information

A detailed description of this occupation can be found on a number of online databases. Follow the link(s) below to access this information:

Search for Related Courses from Qualifax - the National Learners Database

Higher Ed & CAO Course suggestions

If you are interested in this occupation, then the following courses may also be of interest. Note that these course suggestions are not intended to indicate that they lead directly to this occupation, only that they are related in some way and may be worth exploring.